Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachael Henson.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was born and raised near Dallas to a Texan father and a mother who was born in Myanmar. Last year I completed an undergraduate degree for Studio art at the University of Texas at Austin. Recently, I decided that I wanted to make work on the west coast, so I packed up everything I had in my car and drove to Los Angeles to start a new life.
Please tell us about your art.
I primarily work in film photography and installation sculpture but have made performance pieces as well. Recently I have been trying to bridge the gap between photography and sculpture by creating edible images.
I was thinking of the personal connection that a lot of people feel towards photographs ( including myself). But thought that maybe there was a way to experience photos that weren’t just looking at them. How could taste affect the way you view a photograph? What would certain photographs taste like? A lot of my work is about the ephemeral, about trying to recreate a feeling that is fleeting. For instance, I made a self-portrait of my mother, and I flavored with pineapple juice, honey, and pepper. People were encouraged to take bites of the photo to taste the image. Eventually, the entire image was consumed, and only an empty picture frame was left. There is a lot of longing, and introspection in a lot of my work because my art has been a way for me to express my own feelings towards the events that have happened in my own life. Many of the pieces I’ve been making recently are interactive and involve the senses like taste and touch. This move to making work that you can touch, eat, hear, and smell has been my own way of connecting with other people in different and meaningful ways.
As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
I would define success as being able to support yourself through your craft; right now, I am working to figure out a way that I can make my art full-time.
Perseverance is a characteristic that I feel is essential for success as an artist. When I was in school, there was a point when I felt anxious about the future and felt like I had no way into the art world. I asked one of my professors what it took to make it as an artist, and he told me that, ” the people who make it, are the people who don’t give up.” It was simple, but it stuck with me because it made me realize that the only thing stopping people from making art is themselves. Sure, it isn’t easy at all, and there will be many times you will fail. Being an artist is about rolling with the punches, if you can’t do that, then things will be very hard for you.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
A lot of my work is in my studio as I do not have any shows happening right now. I’m currently starting a new body of work that I will be working on throughout the year. One way people could support my work is by hiring me as a photographer, as I have been wanting to shoot with more people here. I primarily work in film and develop/scan my own photos.
Contact Info:
- Website: rachaelhenson.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @romo_goth
Image Credit:
Andrea Calo
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